SummerSlam, credit: wwe.com
3 predictions for the WWE Championship match at SummerSlam 2017.
When the dust settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the site of WWE’ Battleground pay per view on July 23rd, the WWE Championship picture for the 2017 SummerSlam looked all but set. See, the current champion, Jinder Mahal, had once again successfully defended his title against Randy Orton and John Cena, just earlier in the night, had defeated Rusev in a flag match. With Cena just one world championship away from breaking the record in that category with 17, it appeared that a match-up with Mahal was all but booked. It was a perfect narrative for “Big Match John”. Always the pro-American, Cena and Mahal, the anti-American seemed like a perfect pairing. A little boring, formulaic, and obvious, but perfect nonetheless.
However, on the July 25th episode of Smackdown Live, just as Cena and Mahal were going to book their own title match for “The Biggest Party Of The Summer”, GM Daniel Bryan interrupted and explained to Cena that he would need to go through Shinsuke Nakamura before getting the title shot. This led to a dream match between two of the most accomplished, global superstars of all time the following week. And the result? A tremendous match that refreshingly saw Nakamura walk out with the victory and a ticket for a title shot at SummerSlam.
So now the match-up is set. Nakamura versus Mahal for the belt. Here are 3 predictions for what might take place in the WWE Championship match at SummerSlam.
credit: wwe.com
3. The Champ Will Pull Out All The Stops
When Mahal first returned to the WWE back in August of 2016, he did so with little fanfare. “The Modern Day Maharaja” wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire when he was released from the company back in April of 2014. As a member of the lower card jobber faction, 3 Man Band, Mahal was basically an automatic loser in every match he wrestled in. So when he did return, it wasn’t surprising to see him go right back to a similar status. However, there was something different about him. About 40 pounds different. Mahal returned in unbelievable shape and his physique must have caught the eye of management because less than a year after returning, he was a world champion, despite never tasting gold in the WWE before.
To see Mahal defeat Randy Orton to become champion was certainly surprising. It was a clear mismatch on paper. A 13-time world champion and legitimate hall of fame wrestler, against a guy who less than a year earlier was getting beaten by the likes Sin Cara, Darren Young, and Curtis Axel, didn’t seem fair. But Mahal got help where he needed it, employing The Singh Brothers and then eventually The Great Khali. With some assistance from this trio, Mahal is now in his third month as champion.
Now, if you thought the match-up with Orton was uneven, it’ll be even more so with Nakamura. With a legitimate claim of being one of the best wrestlers on earth, “The King of Strong Style” poses as Mahal’s biggest test to date which will undoubtedly lead to the champion needing as much backup as possible. The Singh’s and Khali will get involved in some shape or form in this match and Mahal will resort to every single dirty tactic he knows. But guess what? It won’t be enough.
credit: wwe.com
2. Nakamura Wins; Convincingly
When the WWE signed Nakamura in January of last year, they didn’t just sign a new superstar. Who they signed was one of the most gifted professional wrestlers to ever grace a ring and a man with about as good a resume as any signing they’ve ever had. A 3-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, 5-time IWGP Intercontinental Champion, and the winner of the 2011 G1 Climax all in New Japan Pro Wrestling, “The Rockstar” came to the company with extremely high expectations. Those expectations were confirmed when he went to NXT and in less than 8 months, won the NXT Championship. After becoming the first person to ever win that belt twice, he made the move to WWE roster last April and has run roughshod over the competition on Smackdown ever since.
Nakamura was not brought to the WWE to be a mid-carder. Heck, he wasn’t brought in to be just a contender. Nakamura was brought in to be a world champion and that train will not be derailed by a guy like Mahal. And considering that he just defeated the most accomplished WWE superstar of all-time in Cena, it only makes sense that he takes his first title at the second biggest show of the year. It’s been a better than expected championship run from Jinder, but that all ends at SummerSlam, as Shinsuke’s time is now.
A Nakamura title run has the makings of greatness. With potential feuds with Kevin Owens, Chris Jericho, and of course, AJ Styles all a possibility, the next 6 months could be very fun and extremely exciting for the blue brand. It should be a momentous evening for the Japanese standout. There’s just one big problem…
Source: WWE.com
1. Baron Corbin Cashes In His Money In The Bank Contract
As much as a Nakamura title run sounds amazing, a Baron Corbin cash-in could make things even better. Adding “The Lonewolf” to the title picture as champion could make for some very interesting story-writing in the near future. A Corbin title win at SummerSlam would immediately give the new champion 2 contenders to deal with in Nakamura and Mahal and could potentially lead to some outstanding triple threat matches. At the very least it would be a compelling story for the upcoming Fall months with Nakamura chasing Corbin the belt. It’ll also kill some time before Wrestlemania where the best possible match-up between Nakamura and Styles could then happen for the title that Shinsuke finally tracked down.
Look, the writing is on the wall here. Nakamura and Corbin have been clashing over the past couple months with “The Artist” continually getting the better of the pairing. What better way for Corbin to get his revenge than by dethroning his foe in the most nefarious way possible? As mentioned before, outside interference may play a huge role in this match and it’s a perfect way to leave Nakamura prone for a cash-in. After fighting off 4 superstars, he’ll be beaten and exhausted. Corbin will make the most of that.
Add one more factor in. If the WWE was on the fence about a Corbin cash-in, Nakamura’s match with Cena might have pushed the needle in Corbin’s direction. According to wrestlezone.com, Vince McMahon was furious over the exploder suplex spot that saw Cena land badly on his head and neck. That does not bode well for Nakamura’s future plans.
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Vince being angry or not, a Corbin cash-in might be the best route to go. Expect “The Lonewolf” to lose to Cena in their match earlier in the night, but become WWE Champion before the show is over.